VETERAN gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has called upon the British public to protest against Nigeria's harsh new anti-gay law. From his Facebook page came the following message:
The new Nigerian anti-gay Bill is far worse than we feared. Same-sex marriage & civil unions to be banned: 14 years jail for participants, 10 years jail for helpers & witnesses. Gay advocacy groups & same-sex public affection to be outlawed, with 10 years prison. This sweeping criminalisation contravenes Article 42 of the Nigerian constitution. Read more here: http://bit.ly/vfvAWg
Email your MP and MEPs via this website: www.writetothem.com Ask them to protest to the Nigerian High Commissioner
It has also been reported by PinkNews that over 60,000 signatures were collected asking the Nigerian President to reconsider the harsh bill. (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2F2011%2F12%2F06%2F60000-petition-nigerian-president-not-to-sign-anti-gay-law%2F&h=dAQHRn-k1AQHFfFqPNNfBw8gB9ab7aauPvEkmSfgHExglTA). Nigeria is one of the few countries where the death penalty applies to homosexuals; though it is rarely applied and only applies to the Islamic North of the country.
Influential Virgin boss, Richard Branson, has also weighed in on the Bill, stating, "All of us with influence in Nigeria must do what we can to stop this cruel law. I would urge educated Nigerians all over the world to do what they can to help fight this discrimination."
International pressure can make a change. The case of Tiwonge and Steven, two young men who were partners in Malawi and were jailed for being gay, is an example. After threats of aid being withheld and protests from around the world, they were freed.
Anyone wanting to read the Bill can do so at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/74807203/Nigeria-Same-Sex-Marriage-Bill-final
The new Nigerian anti-gay Bill is far worse than we feared. Same-sex marriage & civil unions to be banned: 14 years jail for participants, 10 years jail for helpers & witnesses. Gay advocacy groups & same-sex public affection to be outlawed, with 10 years prison. This sweeping criminalisation contravenes Article 42 of the Nigerian constitution. Read more here: http://bit.ly/vfvAWg
Email your MP and MEPs via this website: www.writetothem.com Ask them to protest to the Nigerian High Commissioner
It has also been reported by PinkNews that over 60,000 signatures were collected asking the Nigerian President to reconsider the harsh bill. (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2F2011%2F12%2F06%2F60000-petition-nigerian-president-not-to-sign-anti-gay-law%2F&h=dAQHRn-k1AQHFfFqPNNfBw8gB9ab7aauPvEkmSfgHExglTA). Nigeria is one of the few countries where the death penalty applies to homosexuals; though it is rarely applied and only applies to the Islamic North of the country.
Influential Virgin boss, Richard Branson, has also weighed in on the Bill, stating, "All of us with influence in Nigeria must do what we can to stop this cruel law. I would urge educated Nigerians all over the world to do what they can to help fight this discrimination."
International pressure can make a change. The case of Tiwonge and Steven, two young men who were partners in Malawi and were jailed for being gay, is an example. After threats of aid being withheld and protests from around the world, they were freed.
Anyone wanting to read the Bill can do so at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/74807203/Nigeria-Same-Sex-Marriage-Bill-final
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